PHOTOGRAPHERS are risking Haworth Parish Church’s entire renovation project by sneaking on the roof, warns the parish council chairman.

Councillor John Huxley blasted the “irresponsible selfish” snappers who climbed up scaffolding to take shots of restoration work at night.

He claimed any accident during the daring manoeuvres could have closed the site for months, put at risk £200,000 of grant money, and affected workmen’s jobs.

Cllr Huxley, writing as a parochial church council member, said: “We would hope that the individual or individuals concerned will understand that not only are they taking massive risks on their own behalf but the result of their actions could have a massive impact on far more than the Haworth Parish Church community.”

Cllr Huxley spoke out after the church received requests from several local photographers to go up the scaffolding to take panoramic pictures of the village.

The building contractors agreed to the requests once they have made the structure safe to access and could provide a safe and controlled situation for photographers.

Cllr Huxley said that despite this one or more photographers had taken unauthorised climbs up the scaffolding at night, and posted the results on social media.

He said this incident – greeted with “dismay and horror” by church members - could have halted the project for years, putting at risk all the church’s fundraising, including the £200,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant.